Blessed: Choose Mercy
Small Group Leader’s Guide: Blessed—Choose Mercy
Based on the sermon “Blessed: Choose Mercy” (Matthew 5:7, Luke 10:25–37)
Session Length: 60 minutes
1. Welcome & Opening Prayer (5 min)
Welcome everyone.
Invite someone to open in prayer, asking God to help the group understand and live out mercy.
2. Icebreaker (5 min)
Ask: Share a time when you received unexpected kindness or mercy.
3. Read Scripture (10 min)
Read aloud Matthew 5:7 (NIV):
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”Read aloud Luke 10:30–37 (NIV), the parable of the Good Samaritan.
4. Sermon Recap (5 min)
Briefly summarize the sermon: Mercy means seeing the person behind the problem, feeling their hurt, and moving toward them with practical help—just as Jesus did for us.
5. Discussion Questions (25 min)
In the parable, what did the Samaritan do differently from the priest and Levite?
Why is it sometimes hard to notice the person instead of just the problem?
The sermon described “growing our mercy muscles.” What does this look like in daily life or at work?
Has there been a time when you found it difficult to be merciful? What happened?
How does God’s mercy toward us motivate us to show mercy to others?
6. Application & Prayer (10 min)
Challenge: This week, choose one practical way to show mercy—kind words, forgiveness, helping without being asked, or praying for someone difficult.
Ask group members to share a name or situation where they want to show mercy.
Pray for one another, asking God to help each person put mercy into action.
